[MacRuby-devel] Advice for Total Tyro

[Matt Aimonetti]

" I have to admit that MacRuby is getting better everyday but MacRuby
is still far from complete."

Could you elaborate on that please?

Thanks,

- Matt

On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 12:02 PM, David Frantz <websterindustro at mac.com> wrote:
> Here is my perspective, limited as it is.
> 1.
> You can not get by without learning Objective C!
> 2.
> Objective C really isn't that bad!    As a minor upgrade to C it is fast to
> pick up, the bulk of your learning will go to the various APIs.   This if
> you already know a little bit of C.
> 3.
> If you want to write apps right now Objective C is the best way to go.   Now
> I know that many will object to that statement and I have to admit that
> MacRuby is getting better everyday but MacRuby is still far from complete.
> Well maybe not far but I think you should grasp what I mean.
> 4.
> IOS and MacRuby are currently mutually exclusive.   This is actually the
> biggest bummer of any point I have listed so far.   If you are interested in
> iOS devices there is no good reason to even bother with MacRuby.
> 5.
> Now things are not all negative here.   For one all platforms need a well
> integrated scripting language.   MacRuby certainly fills that role but it
> isn't Python.  Now we don't want to argue the finer points of scripting
> languages but I find I use Python more than MacRuby because of prior
> experience and sometimes a better fit for the problem.   So what I'm saying
> is that MacRuby is sorely needed as a way to build MacOS type apps.
> 6.
> MacRuby's status at Apple is unclear.   This can be somewhat frustrating
> because I'd rather that Apple officially support MacRuby.  Apple does seem
> to be extremely focused on the "C" dialects only.   Maybe my impression here
> is wrong, but I'd rather see MacRuby shipped by Apple as part of their
> developer tools set officially supported.    MacRuby should be as important
> to Apple as Visual BASIC is to MS.
>
>
> In the end it is up to you.   MacRuby is a very interesting project and is
> why I follow this forum.   For the time being though I do not use MacRuby.
> The lack of iOS support is one big issue.    The fact that you have to learn
> Objective C and the APIs anyways is another.   I'm also pressed for time and
> know at least a little C++ so Objective C is the less painful approach.
> Also consider this, I made the decision to stay with the C languages a very
> long time ago.   MacRuby is far closer to complete now so the Alpha/Beta
> nature is slowly going away.
>
> Sent from Dave's iPad!
> On Oct 15, 2011, at 8:12 PM, Bryan Harrison <bryan at bryanharrison.com> wrote:
>
> Older & Wisers:
> Having done enough web development, network design, and systems
> administration for one lifetime, I've decided this winter is a fine time to
> leave all that behind and become an applications developer.  Wanting to make
> consumer products and having no interest in Windows, most of the territory
> ahead is obvious.
> But still, I'd appreciate some advice from those who're already there,
> particularly with regard to MacRuby.
> Specifically, has development for OS X and iOS reached the point where it
> would be reasonable to pursue Ruby before or even instead of Objective-C?
>  I've modest C background, am OOP-familiar, am not versed in Cocoa, and am
> only marginally familiar with Ruby.  Obviously I'd like to get up to speed
> as soon as possible, but I'm not under any pressure and expecting this will
> be the next 5-10 years of my life, would rather be good than quick.
> Objective-C is not without a certain homely charm, but Ruby is obviously the
> more modern language.  So…
>
> Does Xcode treat Ruby as family, or is it a stepchild toiling in the ashes?
>  Are there other tools I'll need?
>
> What's Apple's attitude toward Ruby applications?
>
> Can Ruby take advantage of the (finally!) modern memory management features
> released with iOS 5?
>
> Will I end up have having learn Objective-C regardless?
>
> Basically, "If you were me, what would you do, and what order might you do
> it in?"
> Thanks,
> Bryan
>
> _______________________________________________
> MacRuby-devel mailing list
> MacRuby-devel at lists.macosforge.org
> http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/macruby-devel
>
> _______________________________________________
> MacRuby-devel mailing list
> MacRuby-devel at lists.macosforge.org
> http://lists.macosforge.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/macruby-devel
>
>